Conveyer system



Sept. 2. 1924. 1,506,974 y l.. P. cooLEY CONVEYER SYSTEM Y Filed nay 19. 1924 2 shura-snm. 1

v L. P. COOLEY convaincu sYsfrEM Findlay 19. 1924 2 shun-shut z Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES LESLIE P. COOLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO THE CONVEYERS CORPORA- TION 0F AMERICA. OF CHICAGOv ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CONVEYER SYSTEM.

Application filed May 19, 1924.

T o all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LESLIE P. COOLEY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyer Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to convcyer systems and is especially applicable in systems wherein cables are so arranged that, together with the buckets or carriages which they reciprocate, they form virtually endless cables. 4

One object of my invention is the provision of an indicator driven by a sheave over which the reciprocating cable passes for showing the position of the bucket or carriage. Another object is the provision of 'an arrangement of sheaves whereby efeetlve traction may be maintained with the cable without undesirable abrasion between adjacent portions of the cable. Another object is the provision of means whereby a plurality of grooves may be employed on a sheave for eifecting more perfect traction with the cable.

I have set forth in detail these and further objects and features of my invention in the following specification which describes a particular embodiment of my inventlon. In the attached drawings which illustrate this embodiment, v

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a series of coal bins having a conveyer system embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the power unit of the conveyer s stem;

Figure 3 is an end e evation of the power unit of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section of the idler sheave taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

In the drawings I have shown a conveyer system embodying my invention ap lied to a. series of bins such as is customarlly used ,in wholesale coal yards. Two sets of vertically disposed bins L1, L2, etc., and R1, R2, etc., are disposed on either side of a pair of inclined rails 10, which extend downwardly to a point beneath the discharge from a hopper (not shown) into which the contents of the coal car are dumped. A conveyer Serial No. 714,259.

bucket 11 is adapted to travel down the rails to the hopper, the bucket being provided with lateral rollers 12 for supporting the bucket upon the rails.

A cable 13 anchored to the frame of thc` bins at 14 passes over pulleys 15 of a carriage 16 and beneath a sheave 17 on the bucket for supporting the latter and permitting its reciprocation. The opposite end of the cable passes around a suitably located sheave 18 on the frame and to the winding drum 19 of the later described power unit. 20. By rotation or release of the winding drum the bucket may be drawn up or let down along the rails 10 or when reciprocated along the series of bins may be dropped into one of the bins to discharge its contents. The bucket 11 here shown is of a well known type which is held closed whileA supported by the rollers 12 but which when supported by the sheave 17 will discharge its contents when the foot 21 rests upon the top of a pile of coal in one of the bins. The carriage 16 is reciprocably mounted by rollers 22 on a track 23 extend` ing along the tops of the bins. A reciproeating cable 24, the ends of which are secured to the carriage 16, passes over a pulley 25 atv one end of the track 23 and at the other end of the track is wound about the traction sheave 26 and an idling sheave 27. The system thus far described forms no novel part of my invention and may be of any suitable type.

A winding drum 19 is journaled on suitable supports 28 rising from the base 29 of the power unit 20. The periphery of the winding drum is provided with a continuous spiral .groove 19a, in which groove the hoisting cable 13 is wound. At one end the winding drum carries a large gear 30 which meshes with a pinion 3l on a sleeve 32. The sleeve 32 is rotatably journaled in a bearing 33 on one of the supports 28 and is disposed about a drive shaft 34 carrying a gear 35 engaged by the armature pinion 36 of a motor 37. A clutch sleeve 38, feathered on the drive shaft 34 and controlled by a handle 39, controls the winding of the drum while a brake on the sleeve 32 holds the hoisting cable 13 and permits its release.

By actuating the clutch handle 39 and the brake 40 the operator, seated at the power unit, may control the hoisting and lowering of the bucket in the usual manner.

The traction sheave 26 is suitably journaled on the frame of the unit as by an axle 41 held in one of the supports 28. Directly above the traction sheave 26 and in substantially the same plane therewith is the idling sheave 27 which is journaled on a fixed shaft 42 clamped in the upper ends of the supports 28. The periphery of the traction sheave 26 is provided with three parallel non-spiral grooves 26a, 26", and 26, while the periphery of the idler sheave 27 has two similar grooves 27*a and 271.

The reciprocating cable 24, Aas it is wound about the sheaves 26 and 27, may be traced as follows: from the adjacent end of the carriage 16 to'the lowermost point of the groove 26a on the traction sheave 26, a quarter convolution in the roove 26a, the upper half of the groove 27 o the idling sheave 27, the lower half of the intermediate groove 26b of the traction sheave, the upper half of the other groove 27b of the idling sheave, three-quarters of the third groove 26c of the traction sheave, horizontally from the top of the groove 26 to the pulley 25 and to the opposite end of the carriage 16. By thus bringing the cable onto the sheaves in successive partial convolutions alternating between the traction sheave and the idling sheave, it is possible to provide the sheaves with grooves for the cables which will materially increase the traction between the ca ble and the sheave. Were only the traction sheave employed it would be impossible to provide it with non-spiral peripheral grooves because the cable would wrap itself spirally about the sheave. A spiral groove on the traction sheave alone would not be possible because the cable would have to slide transversely on the periphery of the sheave in order to keep the cable from climbing off the sheave.

As regards the effecting of a more perfect traction between the traction sheave 26 and the cable, the purpose of the idling sheave 27, it will thus be seen, is to prevent the cable from having more than one continuous convolution in the grooves of the traction sheave. The grooves on the traction sheave are of such size that they substantially mate a considerable portion of the contour of the transverse section of the cable, thereby greatly increasing the friction between the cable and the sheave as compared with the hair-line contact of the cable wrapped around an ungrooved sheave. The grooves on the idling sheave 27 are not so essential except when an indicator device such as presently described is driven froml the idling sheave.

The traction sheave may be driven and controlled by an suitable means such as by the conventiona ap aratus here shown 1ny Figure 2 somewhat iagrammatically. The traction sheave carries a large gear 43 constantly in mesh with a pinion 44 on a sleeve 45 disposed about the shaft 34 and also constantly in mesh with a reversing pinion 46 on a jackshaft 47. A gear 48 at the opposite end of the jackshaft engages a gear 49 on a sleeve 50 also supported on the drive shaft 34. Actuation of a lever 51 slides a clutch sleeve 52 feathered on the drive shaft 34 into engagement with either of the sleeves 45 and 50 to provide for forward and backward driving of the traction sheave. The traction sheave preferably carries a brake band 53 in the form of a round rod bent about a groove 54 in the periphery of the traction sheave and (zo-operating therewith. The brake band 53 is controlled by a foot pedal 55.

It has previously been the practice, in order for the operator stationed at the power unit of the conveyer system to determine the exact position of the bucket before permitting the latter to drop into a bin or ontothe rails of a runway, to tie colored cloths onto the reciprocating cable so that a given cloth would come to the traction sheave when the bucket was over the corresponding bin. This practice has not been satisfactory because the cloths soon became discolored and were torn from the cables. One object of my invention therefore, is the provision of a more convenient and reliable indicator for the position of the bucket. V'Vhile this indicator might suitably be driven from the traction sheave itself, I prefer to drive it from the idling sheave because of the greater convenience in mountin the mechanism of the indicator. When t e indicator is driven from the traction sheave, as here shown, it is desirable to provide the sheave with the grooves 27 and 27h in order to minimize any slippage between the cable and the sheave.

A spider 56 is mounted on one side of the idling sheave 27 with its hub fixed to the stationary shaft 42. By means of four spacin posts 57 the spider 56 supports a dial p ate 58 disposed at the other side of the idling sheave. The dial plate 58 is thus held stationary with respect to the frame of the power unit. A short shaft 59 is journaled intermediate its ends in the plate 58 and carries at its outer end an indicator arm or pointer 60 adj ustably clamped to the shaft 59 by a thumb screw 61. A gear 62 disposed adjacent to the inner face of the plate 58 is keyed to the shaft 59 and meshes with a pinion 63 mounted on a pivot bolt 64. A gear 67 is secured to the pinion 63 and in turn' meshes with a pinion 68 rotatably mounted on the shaft 59 and having a squared hub 69 inserted in a mating opening 70 in the idlingheave 27. The gears and pinions just describedform a gear reduction between the indicator arm 60 and the sheave 27 so that the arm will be rotated only a.

few degrees by several revolutions of the sheave. The dial plate 58 bears suitable indicia corresponding with the several bins L1, L2, etc., and R1, R2, etc. The neutral point of the dial preferably indicates the position of the bucket over the rails 10. An annular ange 58 on the rear face of the dial. houses and protects the reduction gearing.

Because the distances between bins in each particular installation will vary, the opening in the plate 58 in which the pivot bolt 68 is secured is in the form of an elongated slot 7l which permits the use of different gears and pinions for ei'l'ectino' the necessary gear reduction between the indicator shaft 59 and the sheave 27.

While the sheaves here shown will provide a greatly improved trac-tion with the reciprocating cable, it is possible, of course, that there will be a small amount of slippage from time to time. To compensate for this sliprpage I have provided the thumb screw 61 which can be loosened to permit the operator to correct the reading of the pointer whenever necessary.

While I have shown and described but this particular embodiment of my invention I contemplate that many changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

What I claim is l. The combination with a conveyer sys-A cable for pulling the member along the way,

a sheave over which the cable passes, and an indicator device driven by the sheave in response to movements of Ithe member for showing the posit-ion of the member along 3. The combination with a conveyer. system comprising a carrying member, means for reciprocably supporting said member, and a cable for reciprocating said member along said supporting means, olf means for indicating the position of the carrying member in its reciprocation along said supporting means comprising an indicator and a sheave over which said cable passes for moving said indicator in response to movements of said carrying member.

et. In an actuating device for a reciprocating cable, the combination of a pair of sheaves having relatively fixed spaced axes, a plurality of non-spiral peripheral grooves for showing the reciprocable position of said cable, and rotary means driven by one of said sheaves for actuating said indicator..

5. The combination with a reciprocating lcable of an indicating device therefor, comprising a .pair of sheaves, a plurality of nonspiral peripheral grooves on one of said sheaves, a portion of said cable being disposed in each of said grooves, said cable, intermediate said portions, extending about the other of saidsheaves for transferring said cable from one to the other of said sheaves, an indicating member for showing the reciprocable position of said cable, and means driven by one of said sheaves for controlling said indicating member.

6. The combination with a reciprocating cable of a traction sheave for driving said cable, said traction sheave having a plurality of non-spiral grooves, an idling pulley having a plurality of non-spiral grooves` a portion of said cable disposed in each of the grooves' of said traction sheave, said cable at points intermediate such portions passing over the idling sheave and disposed in the respective grooves thereof, and means driven by said idling sheave for indicating,

the position of said reciprocating cable.

7. The combination in a conveyer system of a cable for reciprocating a carrying mem` ber, a traction sheave engaging said cable for reciprocating the latter, an idling sheave. said cable intermediate its engagement with said traction sheave passing over said idling sheave, and an indicator driven by said idling sheave for showing the reciprocable position of said bucket.

8. In a conveyer system, the combination of a bucket, a cable for reciprocating said bucket, a traction sheave for driving said cable, a frame for supporting said sheave, means for driving said sheave, an indicator sheave also supported on said frame, a plurality of non-spiral peripheral grooves on each of said sheaves, a portion of said cable being disposed in each of the grooves of the traction sheave and, intermediate said portions, extending over said indicator sheave and disposed withinthe grooves thereof, an indica-tor rotatably' supported on said frame, and reducing transmission means between said indicator and said indicator sheave for rotating said indicator.

9. In a. conveyer system, the combination of a cable for reciprocating a carrying inember, means for driving said cable, a sheave having a plurality of non-spiral peripheral grooves, a portion of said cable lying in each of said grooves, means for transferring said cable from one to the other of said grooves, indicating means for showing the position of said bucket in its reciprocation, and reducing power transmission means between said sheave and indicating means fordriving the latter.

l0. In a conveyer system', the combination yof a cable for reciprocating a bucket or the like, means for driving sald cable, a sheave having a plurality of non-spiral peripheral grooves, a portion of said cable lying in each of said grooves, means for transferring said cable from one to the other of said grooves, a rotatable pointer for indicating the position of said bucket, and reduction gears for driving said indicator from said sheave.

11. In a conveyer system the combination of a bucket, a track therefor extendin over a plurality of successive bins, a cable or reciprocating said bucket along said track to positions over the receptive bins, a traction sheave for driving said cable, a frame for mounting said sheave, an idling sheave mounted on said frame, said cable passing over said idling sheave and having nonslipping engagement therewith, a dial plate supported on said frame at the side of said idling sheave, a pivotally mounted pointer for co-operating with the dial to indicate the position of said bucket over saidbins, and reduction gearing between said idling sheave and said pointer.

12. In a conveyer system the combination of a bucket, means for reciprocably supporting the bucket over a lurality of successive bins, a cable for reciprocating the bucket and a cable drivingdevice comprising a frame, a traction sheave mounted thereon, means for driving the traction sheave, control means therefor mounted on the frame, an idling sheave mounted on the frame in alignment with the traction sheave, a cable passing over said sheaves in non-sli pinl engagement therewith, an indicatorv or s owing the position of the bucket over. the bins, and means for driving said indicator from the idling sheave.

13. In a conveyer system the combination of a bucket, means for reciprocably supporting the bucket over successive bins, a cable for reciprocating the bucket, and a cabledriving-.device comprising a frame, a traction' sheave mounted thereon, means for driving the traction sheave, an idling sheave mounted on the frame, said cable passing ofver portions of said traction sheave and of said idling sheave alternately, and an indicator driven by one of said sheaves for showing the position of the bucket over the bins.

14. In a conveyer system, the combination of a carrying member, supporting means therefor over which the member is traversable, a cable for moving the member along said supporting means, means for driving said cable, an indicator for showing the position of said member along said supporting means, and a rotatably mounted wheel having non-slipping engagement with said cable for driving said indicator.

15. A conveyer system comprising in combination a carrying member, a supporting means therefor over which said member travels, a cable for moving the member along said supporting means, means for driving said cable, an indicator movable to show the position of said member in its travel along W. H. WARFonD, S. D. INMAN. 

